The sourjourner

Chapter 83:

Kaya's pov.

“Give me back my baby!!” I growled, running with heavy steps and aiming to catch up with the figure holding my baby. Elior was crying, his voice pierced into the dark and silent night, making my heart sting with pain.

“Stop!!” I yelled out again but whoever that was did not stop.

Knowing that I may lose sight of the person anytime soon, I picked up a heavy rock and aimed, throwing it at the back of the person's head. I heard a grunt, followed by a loud thud on the floor.

I ran over and tried to take Elior but the person sprang up, revealing herself. She was wearing a hoodie but when it fell off, I could clearly see her face.

She was a beautiful woman, seemingly in her late thirties or early forties. She possessed a pair of piercing green eyes, and her hair was ginger coloured. Her beauty was rare, she almost looked like a goddess. I was stunned by her form for a few seconds but I came back to my senses and tried to take Elior.

“Get away from him!” She snapped, nudging me away.

“What do you mean? That is my son!” I replied in rage, ready to fight her for my son.

“Liar! Even if you were his mother, I would never hand him over to you! You abandoned him by the river bank and now you're claiming to be his mother? How cruel can you be to leave such a beautiful baby here to suffer!?” She raged, her green eyes doing justice to her anger.

“I.. I didn't abandon him, I would never do that.” I answered.

Now I understand, she thinks I abandoned my baby, she's only trying to save him.

“I promise, I didn't. He was taken away from me by Axel's soldiers and I came all the way from the dungeon to get him.” I was at the brink of tears again but she didn't look like she believed me. Her eyes now reflected fear instead of rage.

“Axel?” She shuddered.

Who is this man? Why does he strike fear in everyone's heart?

“How am I supposed to be sure that you don't work for him? What do you need this little baby for? Huh?” She almost charged at me but I fell on my knees in front of her, tears making their way out of my eyes.

“I swear on my life, I swear on the moon goddess that he is my son. He was snatched from me and I have been searching for him. Please don't take him away from me.” I pleaded, hiccupping in tears.

After a few moments of silence, she helped me off my knees and placed Elior in my arms.

“My baby.” I cuddled him closely, kissing him all over like a desperate lover. The woman stared at us with a warm smile playing across her lips. She gave me pats on my head.

“Thank you so much.. I thought I had lost my baby.” I cried, still cuddling and kissing Elior. He stopped crying instantly and stared back at me with his big blue eyes. I smiled at him and another thought struck me, how am I supposed to feed him now when I have not eaten thing for two days?

“I.. I have to find something to eat so that I can feed my baby. He must be starving.”

“I have some food with me to spare.” The woman spoke and I looked up at her in tears, thanking her immensely for her help.

She opened up the bag she was holding and brought out some meat. My eyes widened as I had already started to salivate. She chuckled and urged me to eat.

We sat down on some rocks and I started eating. As soon as I was done eat, I started to nurse Elior and he ate in a haste.

“Thank you so much.. but I do not know you.” I pointed out.

“It is not necessary to know me, I am simply a sourjourner on a mission. My mission is to find children who have been affected by the war and take them back to the orphanage which is in a place far away from here. If you had not come in time, I would have taken Elior too.” She explained and I bit my lip.

“I would have not been able to survive it if Elior is taken from me.” I muttered, sniffing back my tears.

“It's fine, I understand the pain. I'm also a mother.” She sighed and then shook her head.

“I never knew that Axel is the reason for this war.”

“Who is he? Why is everyone so afraid of him?” I inquired, rubbing my baby's hair as he slowly fell asleep.

“He is the Alpha prince.. at least, he was.” She said and I furrowed my brows in confusion.

“Alpha prince? Does that mean he is the Alpha's son?” I gasped and she nodded.

“I worked for Alpha Silas many years ago, as a maid. But I had to flee for my life when a fight broke out between him and Axel, his son. Alpha Silas has kept the reason for the fight a secret all these years, but that fight resulted in the death of the Luna. Alpha Silas shifted to his wolf form, but he lost control and the Luna was killed.” She paused and sniffed, I'm sure the memories were gruesome.

I can't even imagine what it must have felt like to witness all of that.

“Axel blamed his father for killing his mother and a war broke out between them, claiming lives and plunging the kingdom into darkness. Axel was banished after that, but the scar of that war has remained for years.” She blinked away her tears and glanced at me.

“He is going to kill Alpha Silas, believe me.”

I shuddered, but I don't know why. After what Alpha Silas did to me and Feyi, I am not supposed to feel bad for him. But for some reason, I wish I could help him.

“It's heartbreaking.” I sighed.

“Indeed. But, it's time for me to leave.” She stood on her feet and I gasped.

“Don't leave please.. I don't have anywhere or anyone to turn to.” I sniffed.

“I'm sorry you have to face this fate young beauty, but I must leave.”

I got on my knees again, staring up at her with tears in my eyes.

“Please, let me come with you, please. There's nowhere for my baby and I to go, we will only be enslaved. I will work in your orphanage, I will do everything it takes, please.”

“Well…” she sighed deeply.

“I guess I can make arrangements for your stay, but only because I don't want Elior to suffer a terrible fate out here.” She replied.

My happiness knew no bounds.